HR0743 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0743 LRB096 13663 KXB 28425 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the students, staff, faculty, and alumni of Oakton Community College on the occasion of the College's 40th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, Founded in 1969, Oakton Community College consisted of four factory buildings still being renovated in Morton Grove; today Oakton offers learning opportunities at four campuses in Des Plaines, Skokie, the neighborhood (270-plus sites), and on the Internet; and

WHEREAS, In 1969 tuition was $10 per credit hour (now, $86 per credit hour); enrollment was 832 students (now, 46,000 students are enrolled); the budget for the college was $2 million (now, $95 million) 38 courses were offered (now, 4,549 courses are offered); 5 programs of study were offered in 1969 (now, 36 career programs and 80 certificates are offered); there were 8 student clubs (now, there are 35); and in 1969 there were 63 faculty and staff members (now, there are 717 faculty and staff members); and

WHEREAS, The New York Times recently named Oakton Community College one of the nation's top ten community colleges; in October of 2007, Oakton earned reaccreditation from the Higher Learning Commission for another ten years; and the college has received more than $1 million in grants from the National Science Foundation to encourage students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and

WHEREAS, Oakton Community College belongs to the Illinois Consortium for International Studies and Programs (ICISP); through ICISP, Oakton is able to offer students the opportunity to study abroad in countries including Austria, Australia, China, Great Britain, Ireland, and Spain; and

WHEREAS, Oakton Community College is a "green" college, respecting, improving, and conserving the environment through academic offerings, learning opportunities, and ecologically sound practices; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate everyone involved in the 40th anniversary of Oakton Community College and wish them all the best in this anniversary year; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to a representative of Oakton Community College as a symbol of our respect.